The bishops of central and eastern Europe will meet in Brussels from 2 to 4 February to analyze the implications of the agricultural policies of the European Union for the candidate countries seeking membership of an enlarged EU. “The seminar explains John Coughlan, spokesman of COMECE (Commission of the episcopates of the European Community) is being held in a critical moment. The European Commission is due shortly to propose a common position for member States of the EU on the financial aspects of agricultural policy in the negotiations on enlargement”. The Commission intends in fact to complete these negotiations with the candidate countries by the end of this year. Eleven bishops from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Romania will participate in the seminar promoted by COMECE and OCIPE (Catholic Office of Information and Initiative for Europe). The programme also includes a meeting with Franz Fischler, European Commissioner for agriculture. ¤
